What would you say is the most reliable, "it just works" distro currently? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev

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Obviously this is somewhat subjective, but I've had a lot of problems in my previous attempts to switch to Linux, so I'd like to create a list of distros to try out, and see what works for me. I'm mostly expecting to be doing basic office work and light gaming via Steam.

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[-] entwine@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Anything "immutable"

ublue family: Bazzite, Aurora, Bluefin
Fedora Atomic family: Silverblue, Kinoite, ...
KDE Linux (experimental)
OpenSuse MicroOS (for servers, but possible to add a desktop)
SteamOS (limited hardware compat)

Any other answer is outdated and wrong.

Edit: holy shit the amount of mint recommendations is crazy. Stay away from mint, it sucks. It's just a less reliable version of Ubuntu. If all you like its desktop environment, that's called "Cinnamon", and it can be installed in other distros.

[-] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 2 points 22 hours ago

LMDE isn't Ubuntu redux. It's what i'm using because it was what i used from the get go 3 years ago and can't be ass'd changing because it works and has never crashed.

90% of what I do is use FF, Joplin, Darktable, Inkscape, Caliber and QBTorrent. A little gaming on Steam and Heroic and messaging on Singal Desktop is the other 10% of my use, so clicking an icon on a dock is about as easy as it gets.

My only minor annoyance is the PrtScr button on my Logitech KB doesn't work (have sollar Installed) but I just use Flameshot anyway.

this post was submitted on 24 Mar 2026

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